BLACKSBURG, Va. – For Curtis Johnson, the engaging 7-foot-3 St. John’s center, this was the ultimate compliment. In the final minutes of the Red Storm’s 65-58 upset of Georgetown, the Hoyas tried to get back in the game by implementing one of the foulest strategies in NBA history: The Hack-a-Shaq.

They deliberately sent Johnson, who like his idol, Shaquille O’Neal, wears a size 22 shoe, to the line twice in the final three minutes. Johnson missed the front of end of a one-and-one with 2:46 left but when he hit the second of two with 2:19 remaining, St. John’s had secured it’s first Big East Conference win of the season.

“Hey, just send me to the line so I could make two,” said Johnson. “I thought of him [O’Neal] afterwards. Like, wow, they think that much of me I have to get fouled. That’s great.”

Johnson has yet to see greatness in his St. John’s career but the junior is contributing in a big way. With five players no longer with the team because of the Feb. 5 sexcapades in Pittsburgh, Johnson has had his minutes and productivity increase.

He scored five points, grabbed five rebounds, blocked two shots and had one steal in 27 minutes. Johnson will have to come up big again tonight when the Red Storm (6-16, 1-10 Big East) plays at Virginia Tech (12-10, 3-8) in what could be a last-gasp chance to get out of the conference cellar.

Johnson has always been a fan favorite but not because of his play. He towers over his teammates and his been more of a mascot than a player. Johnson has had to have both feet broken and surgically repaired to correct abnormalities and give him a chance to play.

“I think I’m taken seriously when I can stop anybody’s offense,” said Johnson. “You put me in the middle and I clog it up and we get some fast breaks, you have to take me seriously.”

St. John’s interim coach Kevin Clark is taking Johnson more seriously and giving him more responsibility. On two straight possessions in the second half, Clark ran plays to get Johnson the ball in the low post.

Johnson’s teammates are taking notice, too. For the first time, after almost two years, dynamic point guard Daryll Hill said Johnson blocked one of his shots in practice yesterday.